Overview
Itinerary
Arrive at any time. There are no planned activities until an evening welcome meeting.
- Meet Your CEO and Group: Your opportunity to meet your CEO and fellow travellers, and learn more about your tour. Opt to join the group for a local meal afterwards. Don't forget to see the notice in the lobby (or ask reception) for the official time and place to meet up with the group.
- Bomas of Kenya Tour: This tour gives you a glimpse into the life of 42 different tribes of the country that make up Kenya's rich culture. Get a better understanding of village life by visiting homesteads and enjoy a display and sounds of folk dances performed. Entrance fee and hotel pick-up included.
- The Carnivore Restaurant: Feast on a range of familiar and exotic meats roasted over an open flame barbecue pit. Ever wanted to try ostrich or crocodile? Here's your chance to do so (at a world-renowned restaurant, at that). Price includes the price of a meal (without a beverage) and hotel pick-up.
- National Museum: Take a stroll through this museum to get a better understanding of Kenya's rich heritage through a range of cultural and natural-history exhibits. Learn more about the region's bird population at the Birds of East Africa exhibit, a huge gallery of at least 900 stuffed specimens. Get a refreshing take on Kenyan history counterpoint to colonial historiographies at the Historia Ya Kenya display. Entrance fee and hotel pick-up included. (1200-3000 KES per person)
- Karen Blixen Museum : Converted from the former home of pioneer coffee farmer and acclaimed writer Karen Blixen, this museum provides visitors insight into life of a Danish settler in pre-Independence Kenya. Take a walk through the home, and magnificent gardens that provide a stunning view of the Ngong hills. Hotel pick-up and entrance fee included. (34-75 USD per person)
- Railway Museum: Adjacent to the Nairobi railway station, this museum contains exhibits from the East African Railways opened in 1971. (6-34 USD per person)
Enjoy breakfast at the hotel in Nairobi then journey by private vehicle through the Great Rift Valley on the way to one of the most famous national parks in Africa, Masai Mara, arrive around lunch time. Head out on a visit to Masai Village and then an afternoon safari drive in the lodge's concession to search for giraffe, zebra, hyena, antelope, lions, leopards, rhinos, buffalos & elephants as you enjoy the beautiful scenery. Travel from Nairobi, through the Great Rift Valley on to Kenya's premier wildlife reserve. In the afternoon, arrive in the area and get settled at the safari camp, our base for our time here. Head out for a late afternoon wildlife safari drive in the lodge's private concession with excellent chances of seeing the "big five" — watch for lion, cheetah, buffalo, elephant and giraffe. The varied wildlife and natural environment come together to provide a spectacular safari experience.
- Safari Vehicle: Get a better view and take better snapshots aboard this off-road ride.
- Masai Village Visit: Experience the rare opportunity to visit a Masai village. Step inside a hut made of cow dung and sticks, let your eyes adjust to the dark, and imagine living in such a small space. Admire the exquisite beaded necklaces, bracelets and earrings. Marvel at the athletic ability of the young men who jump and bob in greeting. Learn about the traditions of these nomadic people, who seek sustenance from both the blood and milk of their cows. Take fantastic photos!
- Wildlife Safari Drive in Nashulai Maasai Conservancy: You are in one of the world’s top safari destinations, known for its abundance of big cats – cheetahs, leopards and lions – as well as the two million wildebeest, Thomson’s gazelles and zebra that migrate annually across the vast grasslands in search of water. Set off on safari with our driver/guide on a private concession near the reserve, the Nashulai Maasai Conservancy, and keep your eyes and ears peeled for movement and memories. Watch elephants and giraffe grazing, photograph zebras and wildebeest and, with a little luck, you'll even spot animals feasting on a recent kill.
Enjoy an early wildlife safari drive when animals are most active. Or opt for a Hot Air Balloon Safari. In the afternoon, after your picnic lunch, set off on another safari drive in the Masai Mara National Reserve.
- Wildlife Safari Drive: You are in one of the world’s top safari destinations, known for its abundance of big cats – cheetahs, leopards and lions – as well as the two million wildebeest, Thomson’s gazelles and zebra that migrate annually across the vast grasslands in search of water. Set off on safari with our driver/guide in Masai Mara National Reserve and keep your eyes and ears peeled for movement and memories. Watch elephants and giraffe grazing, photograph zebras and wildebeest and, with a little luck, you'll even spot animals feasting on a recent kill.
- Maasai Mara Balloon Safari: The adventure begins just before dawn and lasts an hour in the sky. Fly over the Mara River, plains, and forests of the Maasai Mara. Toast your return to earth with a champagne breakfast, cooked wherever you land. Please note that while single passengers can book on this activity, the balloon will require a minimum of two passengers to take flight. In the rare case that this minimum is not reached by the time of your flight, passengers will be refunded for this activity. Additional fees will apply for passengers exceeding the 120 kg (265 lbs) weight limit.
Breathe in the fresh morning air, stretch and enjoy the African sun as it rises over the savannah of the "Mara". Search for wildlife outside of the reserve while leaving the area. Then, visit the G for Good supported Amani Ya Juu for lunch, before heading back to Nairobi, where you will have a free evening to unwind.
- Wildlife Safari Drive: You are in one of the world’s top safari destinations, known for its abundance of big cats – cheetahs, leopards and lions – as well as the two million wildebeest, Thomson’s gazelles and zebra that migrate annually across the vast grasslands in search of water. Set off on safari with our driver/guide on a private concession near the reserve and keep your eyes and ears peeled for movement and memories. Watch elephants and giraffe grazing, photograph zebras and wildebeest and, with a little luck, you'll even spot animals feasting on a recent kill.
- Safari Vehicle: Get a better view and take better snapshots aboard this off-road ride.
- Amani Ya Juu Lunch: In the post-colonial era of East and Southern Africa, Kenya found itself as a refuge for many women who were seeking safety. As a result, a very special G Adventures for Good supported project, Amani ya Juu, was created. Amani ya Juu serves as a community where many of these women can learn entrepreneurship and engage in fair trade activities that allow them to create opportunities for themselves and their families. By creating unique handicrafts symbolic of their cultures, the women can express themselves and receive an impactful income, leading to economic independence. Here you’ll enjoy a locally sourced lunch prepared by women and youth of the community, engage in conversation to learn of their history, and build a greater connection with this incredible program.
- The Carnivore Restaurant: Feast on a range of familiar and exotic meats roasted over an open flame barbecue pit. Ever wanted to try ostrich or crocodile? Here's your chance to do so (at a world-renowned restaurant, at that). Price includes the price of a meal (without a beverage) and hotel pick-up.
Catch a flight this morning from Nairobi to Kampala. Enjoy free time to become settled and explore the city on your own before the next part of the adventure begins tomorrow.
- Plane: Sit back and enjoy the short flight between Nairobi and Kampala.
- Free Time: The bustling, vibrant city of Kampala, Uganda, offers a wealth of opportunities for free-time exploration. You might choose to dive into the city's rich history with a visit to the Kasubi Tombs, a UNESCO World Heritage site and the burial ground of the Buganda kings, or explore the impressive Baháʼí Temple, the only one of its kind in Africa. For a taste of local life, wander through the colorful stalls of the Owino Market, a massive open-air bazaar. Alternatively, find a quiet moment at the serene Lake Victoria or simply relax at a local café, soaking in the energetic atmosphere of Uganda's capital.
Take the scenic route to Fort Portal at the edge of Kibale National Park. Spend the night on a guest farm listening to the sounds of monkeys and birds.
Accommodation in Fort Portal is on a farm in simple furnished tents with shared bathroom facilities.
Explore the evergreen rainforest and trek to spot chimps in the morning or afternoon. Enjoy a traditional lunch in the Bigodi Community. Opt to venture deep into the wetlands to spot more wildlife on a guided walk through the Bigodi Wetlands Sanctuary.
- Chimpanzee Trek: Embark on a chimp trek with a park ranger/guide. See more than just chimpanzees in their natural environment. Learn about the ecosystem and keep an eye out for other animals. Although chimp sightings are not guaranteed, visitors stand a good chance of hearing and seeing our distant cousins as they are not bothered by humans watching their daily behaviour.
- Bigodi Community Lunch: Sit down to a traditional buffet-style lunch prepared with fresh, organic local ingredients. Guests dine in a grass thatched hut and learn about Bigodi dining etiquette. Your local hosts describes how the ingredients used in the dishes are grown, harvested and prepared.
- Bigodi Swamp Walk: Take a guided walk through the Bigodi wetlands. On your tour, you will likely see several kinds of monkeys including black and white colobus, red colobus, mangabey, red tail, vervet, and L’Hoest. Other wetlands mammals include baboons, sitatunga (an increasingly endangered swamp antelope), bush pigs, civet cats, mongooses, bush bucks and an occasional chimpanzee. The area also boasts an incredible bird population. Walking poles are provided, subject to availability. If you require poles, we suggest bringing your own.
Continue on to Queen Elizabeth NP, stopping at the equator. Head out on a wildlife safari drive in the afternoon. Keep your eyes peeled for warthogs, elephants, buffalo, five different species of primates, and hippos. Queen Elizabeth National Park is characterized by open savannah, large areas of swamp around Lake George, the extensive Maramagambo Forest in the southeast, and the forested Kyambura Gorge along the border with Kyambura Game Reserve.
Tonight's accommodation is located on a hill, on the border of Queen Elizabeth National Park. It offers spectacular views of Lake George and the savannah plains.
- Queen Elizabeth National Park Wildlife Safari Drive: Enjoy a wildlife safari drive inside Queen Elizabeth National Park. The park is home to Uganda's largest wildlife populations. Keep an eye out for buffalo, elephants, hippos, hyenas, lions, warthogs, and the elusive leopards.
Take an early morning wildlife safari drive and enjoy lunch inside the park. Opt for an evening cruise along the Kazinga Channel. Enjoy a wildlife safari drive with possible sightings of buffaloes, waterbucks, warthogs, lions, leopards, hyenas, giant forest hogs, and elephants.
- Queen Elizabeth National Park Wildlife Safari Drive: Enjoy a wildlife safari drive inside Queen Elizabeth National Park. The park is home to Uganda's largest wildlife populations. Keep an eye out for buffalo, elephants, hippos, hyenas, lions, warthogs, and the elusive leopards.
- Free Time: Don't waste a minute— start exploring.
- Kazinga Channel Cruise: Take a boat cruise on the Kazinga Channel, a waterway inside Queen Elizabeth National Park that connects Lake George and Lake Edward. Look out for a variety of wildlife who are drawn to the channel shores. Spot birds, crocodiles, hippos, and reptiles.
Enjoy the scenic drive south, with views of forests, volcanoes and lakes. Spend the night on the edge of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park.
Accommodation at Bwindi Impenetrable NP is in simple furnished tents/rooms with ensuite bathroom facilities.
Rise early for the tour's main highlight – gorilla trekking! Head into Bwindi Impenetrable National Park to meet the park ranger/guide for orientation. Embark on the trek, which can vary in length and difficulty, depending on the location of the gorilla family that's being visited. Spend 1 hr (max) observing these beautiful and endangered creatures, a truly privileged experience. Trek back and return to town. Enjoy free time in the afternoon.
Bwindi Impenetrable National Park has four areas; Rushaga, Buhoma, Nkuringo, Ruhija. Depending on permit availability your group could be tracking gorillas from different areas of the park, it is all still part of Bwindi.
- Mountain Gorilla Trek: Take an unforgettable guided trek (1-6 hrs) deep into volcano forests of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park for a wildlife encounter of a lifetime, and meet a family of mountain gorillas. One of Africa's major highlights, a close encounter with these amazing animals is simply breathtaking. Get prepared before heading out: bring plenty of water and waterproof clothing (it can rain on only a few minutes’ notice), and be sure to bring protective bags for cameras and film. Dress in layers with long sleeves and long pants to protect against stinging nettles found in the forests. The trek’s often chilly, at first, until you start trekking. Note: Ugandan authorities are fiercely protective of this natural treasure, and currently permit only a maximum of eight people, per day, to visit a given gorilla family. The group will be split into different sub-groups for the trek, and depending on the number of travellers, different sub-groups may do their trek on different days. Bwindi Impenetrable National Park has four areas; Rushaga, Buhoma, Nkuringo, and Ruhija. Depending on permit availability your group could be tracking gorillas from different areas of the park, it is all still part of Bwindi.
- Free Time: Depending on when you get back from your gorilla trek, you may have some time to explore more of the area.
- Porter Hire: Hire a local porter to carry your day pack throughout the trek, giving you more ease on your journey.
Cross the border into Rwanda, then head to the capital city, Kigali. Visit the genocide museum to learn more about the dark history of this fascinating country. Enjoy lunch at the G Adventures supported Nyamirambo Women's Centre.
The tour ends following lunch at Nyamirambo Women's Centre. Please book onward flights no earlier than 6pm.
- Border Crossing (Uganda - Rwanda): Ready for a little more ink in your passport? Grab your bags and get ready to check another country off your bucket list.
- Kigali Genocide Memorial Visit: Visit the Kigali Genocide Memorial Centre, which serves as a permanent memorial to those who fell victim to the genocide in 1994. The centre opened on the tenth anniversary of the Rwandan Genocide, in April 2004, and was built on a site where more than 250,000 people are buried. Please note that content at the Memorial Centre shows the harsh reality of the genocide.
- Nyamirambo Women's Centre, Local Lunch: Located in Nyamirambo, the largest and most vibrant township in Rwanda, the centre provides women and girls from a diverse range of backgrounds, the opportunity to support each other and succeed, through education and training programs. Enjoy lunch prepared by women employed at the centre, allowing us to try local foods and popular dishes. After lunch, take some time to browse the centre's shop, which features handmade, high-quality crafts and clothes, made by some of the women at the shop, as well as other women's cooperatives throughout Rwanda. Proceeds from the meal and shop help support the centre’s education and training programs, including a community library.
Trip Inclusions
- Safari the legendary Maasai Mara in search of the Big Five.
- Step into a traditional Maasai village and share stories with locals.
- Trek deep into the forest to meet a family of mountain gorillas.
- Set out on foot in Uganda to spot chimps swinging through the canopy.
- Cruise Queen Elizabeth National Park spotting elephants and hippos.
- Your G for Good Moment: Amani Ya Juu Lunch, Nairobi
- Your G for Good Moment: Nyamirambo Women's Centre, Local Lunch, Kigali
- Your Welcome Moment: Meet Your CEO and Group
- Masai Mara National Reserve entrance and wildlife safari drives
- Masai Village Visit
- Guest farm stay near Kibale National Park
- Chimpanzee trek
- Bigodi community lunch
- Queen Elizabeth National Park wildlife safari drives
- Guided gorilla trekking in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
- Visit to Kigali Genocide Museum
- All national park fees and trekking permits
- Internal flight between Nairobi and Kampala
- All transport between destinations and to/from included activities
- 7-seat 4x4 safari van, Private van, walking, plane
- CEO (Chief Experience Officer) /driver throughout, experienced gorilla trackers, local guides, certified driver/guide
- Hotels (5 Nights), Simple Furnished Tents/rooms (6 Nights)
- Hotel accommodation in Uganda/Rwanda will be in simple, but comfortable twin-share rooms. All rooms are equipped with adequate mosquito netting (with the exception of your hotel in Musanze, where mosquito nets are not needed due to high-altitudes). Tented accommodation will be in simple furnished tents on wooden platforms, with shared bathroom facilities. All tents are large, walk-in tents with mosquito-netting, two beds and provided linens. A sleeping bag or extra mosquito-netting is not needed for this tour.
- Please remember that this is a developing area and as such, accommodations/service may not be of similar standard to which you are used to in your home country. As well, interruptions in electricity and water can be common. We appreciate your patience and understanding as well as your sense of adventure.
- 11 breakfasts, 7 lunches, 6 dinners
- Accommodation, itinerary and inclusions subject to change.
- Price is for land, cruise and internal flights as specified. Flights not specified are not included.
Operator
On all of our tours, you get to know locals every step of the way, from the places you visit and stay to where you eat and drink. You’ll also get to experience our ‘G for Good’ social impact initiatives on-trip, including our industry-leading ‘Ripple Score’. This score measures, as a percentage, the amount of money that stays in the local community through on-trip services like accommodation, restaurants and transport.
Get the best of both worlds with G's Classic trips as your knowledgeable CEO (Chief Experience Officer) leads you to iconic highlights and hidden gems, while ample free time lets you discover what excites you most. Enjoy included meals showcasing local flavours, plus opportunities to dive deeper into the food scene independently. Stay in comfortable hotels, authentic homestays, and unique accommodations that capture the spirit of each destination.
Dates & Pricing
AUD
A definite departure means minimum numbers have been reached for this departure to operate. Your Global Journeys Travel Advisor will check the availability of your departure date when you Enquire. Additional savings may apply. T&C’s apply.
Tour & cruises prices are per person. Prices shown have savings applied, are subject to availability and may be withdrawn at any time without notice. Pricing and trip details are correct at this point in time, however are subject to confirmation at the time of booking and are subject to change by G Adventures. For cruise itineraries, cabin images are sourced from the cruise-line and should be treated as indicative only. Cabin inclusions, upholsteries and room layout may differ to the image(s) shown depending on the ship selected and your sailing dates.
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